Apparatus for handling and heattreating glass



Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN 3 3 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUSE'OR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 I0 9 ED ,7! U 85 1 E11 m 4s 1 a P 101 89 992- 69" 6;? a4 a? a5 .91 a 55 90 s4 4(\ r J\, 5 7 X J F A 1011 jg Feb. 27, 1945. A, VAUGHAN 2370,38]

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed Aprii 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, i940 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 m J 3 U U M r A n N m T R Q an I w nu Feb. 27, 1945. VAUGHAN 2,370,381

APPARATUS FOR HANDLJNG AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 j Ari/iarziVdym Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 .M A x a Q & I. 5% fin mNQQwQ Q 3 3 ma a 3 y MW mu 3 w QM s 3* Q.

Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1 940 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 27, 1945. A. H. VAUGHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19. 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 gwuv/ntm flrllmrflw yfialz Feb. 27, 1945. H VAUGHAN 2,370,381

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND HEAT TREATING GLASS Filed April 19, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 T/ m w suitable carrier means.

aielyafter removin the Patented F eb. 27,. 1945 srrsasrus Foa HANDLING AND nnsr- 'rnns'rmo cuss Arthur R. Vaughan, Salem, one-m a The 7 Electric Furnace Company,

pontion of Ohio Salem, Ohio, I cor Application April iii. 1940, Serial No. ssemf as Gianna. (or. 0-1) The invention relates generally to furnaces for heat treating glass, such as polished plate glass, and to handling equipment associated with such furnaces for the continuous production of heat treated glass.

More particularly. the invention relates toglass handling and heat treating apparatus for producing curved "or "beat" heat treated glass. However, the invention is not limited to the production of.bent heat treated glass. the apparatus may be used.- by omitting certain operations, for" the production of flat heat treated slass.

A furnace having an elongated heating chamber and having a longitudinal slot in its upper .heat treatment thereof before be bent, curved or shaped molds from an initial flat shape. if thebending by luitable bending shape to a desired bent is performed during the the air blast step and while the lights are in a suitable condition of plasticity resulting from heating.

0n the other hand, it has been found that improperly heat treated glass is produced. and that breakage frequently occurs during the blast step. if more than a f ew seconds elapse between the time of removal of the glass nace and the commencement of the blast step.

."I'herefore. any bending operation must be com pleted very rapidly. within a period of can a wall or roof is ordinarily used for heat treatlhl glass. "Lights" of glass, i. 'e., pieces cut to the desired size and shape, are suspended in a yer.- tical position within the furnace chamber from Thecarriers usually include an external carrier member. one or more suspension .rods adapted to extend. through the "furnace slot, and a support bar' positioned within the furnace chamber below the roof. The lights are ordinarily suspended within the furnace chamber by gripping tongs which hang from the support bar. g

The lights, suspended by the carriers as described, are usually introduced. into the furnace chamber at one end thereof throughn first opening, either in the furnace end wall or roof; and,

- manufacture heat treated glass the furnace.'of bending the fewfseconds, while the glam retains its softness. and withoutsuhstantially cooling the. glass prior Heat treated glass, whether bent or flat. has.

many uses. such as in the construction of auto mobiles. It is therefore desirable.

production so as to reduce the cost thereof.

. Accordin y. it isquite important to use very rapidly operating conveying or handling equipment in the production of heat treated glass. 'I'hatis-to. say. the operatiom of manipulating carriers to place lights inand rcmovethem from lights (if used), of applying the air blasts to the lights. andof removing are removed from the chamber at the other end thereof througha similar second opening. The carriers are advanced step by step from the first opening vals so that the suitable heating means within the furnace chamber, to a temperature at which the glass is plastic. usually about 1150' F. to 1200 F. Immedh lights from the furnace, each surface of the glassis rapidlychilled or. cooled to below the sol temperature thereof by subjecting said surfaces for the necessary time interval to the chilling action of a pluralityof air blasts or Jets. Thereafter, the lights are usually cooled more slowlyto room temperature, which completes the heat treating cycle.

Heat treated glass made in. this manner is in astateofstresss'uchastoimpartccrtaindcsirable properties to theglass, including high resistance to fracture. A heat treating and temin the general manner described. is shown in U. B. Batent'No. 2,170,749. 2

It has been discovered that glass'lights may a It'is also important thereof;- and it furnace and handling,

carriers from formed in the gum number of carriers may be handled per in thefproduction of heat treated glass to use equipment capable of smooth and gentle operation. because-the material handled is glass;

becauseattimestheglassisin a plastic-state.

Glass handling tongs and carriers have previously been designed for avoiding certain dimcultiedin handling glass durin the heat treatment Y equipment 'used for the continuous production of heat treated glass must be adapted for using such known typical designs oftongs'and poring furnace for making heat treated flat glass form the bendingoperation at the Moreover, temperature disturbances in a me" .heat treating furnace mustbe avoided so that it is i portant to have only a minimum exposure of the furnace entrance and discharge openings. and to locate such openings in" the furnac root. And finally, it is important, if not necessary. in the production of bent heat treated glass, to persame place or station that the air blast operation is performed fromtheheating no if possible, to in continuous' is therefore lmp'ortant that any stated as follows:

A. To make substantially continuous and automatic glass handling and treating apparatus for rapidly handling glass safely in a vertical position with typical carriers and tongs to carry out a known heat treating cycle including a heating of the glass in a vertical furnace and a chilling thereof within a very few seconds after removal from the furnace.

B. To make mechanism that will quickly bend or mold glass lights at a bending and blast station and leave the station unobstructed for carrying out a succeeding air blast operation at said station within a very few seconds after removal of the lights from the heating furnace.

C. To make mechanism for quickly moving blast head apparatus to and from, and for positioning the same at, a bending and blast station alternately occupied by bending molds.

D. To make an elevator construction, either loading or unloading, for the quick and safe transfer or glass in a vertical position between a furnace, certain treating stations, and an external conveyor.

E. To make mechanism for moving molds and blast heads to and from a bending and blast station located within the confines of an elevator structure and immediately above the furnace discharge opening; and for stopping such elevator exactly at said bending and blast station.

F. To collectively solve the above problems, because each raises obstacles with respect to others due to the temperature, time and location limitations involved in carrying out the heat treating cycle, and due to the character, condition and arrangement of the material being treated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for substantially automatically continuously handling and heat treating lass.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus for substantially automatically continuously handling and heat treating glass in a vertically opening furnace with a minimum exposure of and heat loss fromthe furnace openin s.

It is also an object of the invention to vide apparatus for substantially automatically continuously handling and heat treating verticaliy suspended glass lights.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus for substantially automatically continuously handling and heat treating glass suspendedirom typical carriers by typical tong It is also an object of the present invention to i provide rapid, smooth and gentle operating glass handling and heat treating apparatus.

It is also a general object of the invention to provide glass handling and heat treating apparatus, the operation of which avoids complicated and interrelated diiilculties arising. because of the character, condition and arrangement of the material being treated. and because of the temperature, time and location or the various steps of treatment. I

It is also an obiect or the invention to provide glass handling and heat treating apparatus for carrying out several operations of a heat treating cycle at one time, and with a minimum elapsed time per operation, so that maximum production from the apparatus may be obtained.

Likewise, it is an object of the invention to provide an elevator construction that can quickly transfer carriers from and to an external conveyor, vertical openings in a furnace, and an intermediate position between the furnace exit opening and conveyor, without jarring, dropping or mishandling glass lights suspended by the carriers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elevator construction for quickly vertically moving glass carried in a vertical position, either up or down, without jarring, dropping, breaking or injuring the glass.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elevator without guides in the path of movement of the elevator car so as to permit the use of the space through which the elevator car travels, as a work space.

It is also an object of the invention to provide guides for an elevator car without interferin with the use of bending and air blast equipment at a bending and blast station located at a position intermediate the limits of travel of the elevator car.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elevator car with rotary means for engaging and disengaging a carrier..

It is also an object of the invention to provide an engaging and disengaging elevator car for picking up and releasing a wheeled carrier.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an operating mechanism for elevator car engaging and disengaging means, carried by the car and extending through a guide for the car.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a charging elevator construction, which may move a wheeled carrier to a lowered position for enter ing a light into a furnace, and immediately release the carrier so that the elevator may be loaded with another carrier and ready for another light insertion into the furnace as soon as the furnace pusher retracts from advancing lights through the furnace; so as to avoid a long exposure of the furnace charging opening, or a covering of the same, while loading the eleva- 7s shalt. while tor, ii the elevator stayed down until the furnace pusher moved the carrier oil of the elevator, and so as to speed up the operation of glass handling equipment, oi which the charging elevator is a part.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a loading mechanism for transferring a wheeled carrier from an external conveyor to a charging elevator having the described characteristics.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a discharge elevator with a positive stop for accurately locating the elevator car at a fixed position intermediate its limits of movement.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a discharge elevator construction which may remove a wheeled carrier vertically from a position directly under the elevator immediately upon lowering the elevator car; so that the car does not have to be in lowered position while a. carrier is being moved under the elevator, which would prevent use of the car, or the carrying out of operations within the confines or the elevator the carrier is being moved to a posi- 2,870,881 'tlon below the car, and so as to speed upthe operation of glass handling equipment. of which the discharge elevatoris a part.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an unloading mechanism for transferrin a wheeled carrier from a discharge elevator having the describ'ed characteristics to an external conveyor.

'.It is also an object of the invention to provide bending mold operating mechanism "which can bend or mold glass suspended from a carrier.

It is also an object of the invention to provide bending mold operating mechanism, which combines extremely rapid completion of the bending operation and sufficiently slow deformation of the glass being bent, and which will subject the lass to a minimum of chilling due to contact with the molds.

It is also an object of the invention to provide fluid pressure actuated rotary glass bending mold operating mechanism for glass bending molds.

It is also an object of theinvention to provide bending mold operatingmechanism which can move the molds to a bending position, perform a bending operation, and move the molds to a retracted position within about two seconds.

' It is also an. object of the invention to provide bending mold operating mechanism, certain parts of which move through 360 degrees in performing a bending operation.

Likewise, it is an object of the invention to provide bending mold operating mechanism with speed control means for preventing jarring or breakage of glass being bent.

It is also an object of the invention to provide glass bending mold operating mechanism in which the limits of movement of the molds may be accurately adjusted.

It is also an object of the invention to provide movable rotary blast head mounting means for quickly and accurately moving blast heads to and from a blast station.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a substantially parallelogram linkage for movably mounting a rotary blast head.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a movable rotary air blast head with means for operating a valve for the blast air coordinated with the movement of the blast head a predetermined position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide blast valve means, and elevator car engaging and disengaging means, forming constituent parts of substantially automatically continuous glass 7 handling and heat treating apparatus.

It is also an object of the invention to provide electrical actuating and control mechanism for the said hydraulic operating mechanism.

It is also an object of the invention to provide sequence and safety control means for the said electrical actuating mechanism, and the said bydraulic operating mechanism, for substantially automatically and continuously p rating glass handling and heat treating apparatus.

It is also an object of the invention to provide said hydraulic operating mechanism with hydraulic cylinders and with speed control means for starting and stopping the pistons moving in said cylinders, and the devices moved thereby, so as to avoid jarring and breaking glass lights being handled.

It is also an object of the invention to provide cullet pan means for protecting a furnace discharge opening at all times except when a discharge elevator is removing a can-ier from the furnace.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an external conveyor between the discharge and charging elevators of glass handling and heat treating apparatus.

And finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide glass handling and heat treating apparatus fulfilling the above obiects and which may be operated in a convenient manner for the continuous production of heat treated glass, or bent heat treated glass.

These and other objects may be obtained by the glass handling and heat treating apparatus, constructions, parts, combinations and sub-combinations which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement. a preferred embodiment of which, together with its mode of construction and operation, is setforth in the following description, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

a bending mold and blast head mounting and operating construction for performing alternate molding and blasting operations upon glass positioned at one station.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction in which a discharge elevator car.

. bending molds, and blast heads may be quickly moved to and accurately located at a bending and therefor, for carrying out a bending and a blasting operation immediately above the exit opening of a vertically opening glass heat treatin furnace.

It is also an object of the invention to provide hydraulic operating mechanism for elevators, bending molds, blast heads, furnace pusher means, elevator loader and unloader means, air

The nature of the improvements oi the present invention may be described in general terms as including in glass handling and heat treating apparatus, charging elevator loading mechanism:

charging elevator mechanism including an elevator structure, an elevator car, guides for the car, raising and lowering mechanism for the car, and means on the car for engaging and disengaging a wheeled carrier: furnace pusher means; discharge elevator mechanism including an elevator structure,,an elevator car, guides for the car, raising and lowering mechanism for the car, mechanism for conh'olling the stopping of the car at a predetermined pomtion intermediate .car for engaging and the limits of travel of the car, and means on the v 8 wheeled carrier; bending mold mechanism including molds and means for operating the same; blast head mechanism including blast heads, means for lowering blast heads to, locating the same at and raising the same from. a bending and blast station, blast head air control means, and means for imparting rotary movement to the blast heads; discharge elevator unloading mechanism; external conveyor means communicating between the discharge elevator unloading mechanism and the charging elevator loading mechanism; a furnace having a vertical entrance opening below improvements, elements,

the charging elevator mechanism, and a vertical discharge opening below the discharge elevator mechanism. heating means for the furnace, and means for supporting carriers advanced lengthwise of the furnace; cullet pan means for the furnace discharge opening including operating mechanism therefor; main air valve means for the blast heads: and safety, sequence, timing and control mechanism for the handling apparatus including electrical control and operating circuits, hydraulic control and operating valves and systems, and interacting means coordinating the operation of the hydraulic systems and electric circuits; whereby wheeled carriers supporting glass lights may be advanced substantially continuously through thehandling and heat treating apparatus to carry out a heat treating cycle for making heat treated glass or bent heat treated glass.

An embodiment of the present improvements in glass handling and heat treating apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved glass handling and heat treating apparatus showing more particularly the location of the furnace, charging and discharge elevators, and external conveyor, parts of the furnace being broken away Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the external conveyor track, showing its relation to the furnace;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the furnace, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1:

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlar ed fragmentary sectional views taken on the line 4-4, Fig. l, illustrating the operation of the elevator car enga ing and disengaging means;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section, line '|1, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line B8, Fig. 4, illustrating a wheeled carrier supported in engaged position by the charging elevator car and suspending a glass light in the furnace chamber;

Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary section taken on the line 99, Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation and freementary section, certain of the parts being broken away, of the charging elevator, taken on the line ill-Iii, Fig. l; 3

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line ll-H,Fig.l;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation section of the charging end of the furnace, taken on the line i2-|2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the charging end of the furnace, and the charging elevator shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken on the line l4i4, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line l5--i5, Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section of the discharge elevator, taken on the line 16-, Fig. i;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of the discharge end of the furnace, and the discharge elevator shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 16, but showing the bending molds in a bending position at .the bending and blast station;

Fig 19 is a view similar to portions of Figs. 16 and 18, but showingthe air blast heads in a blast position at the bending and blast station;

taken on the Fig. 20 is a section taken on the line 20-20, Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a section Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a. section taken on the line 22-22, Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a section taken on the line 23-23, Fig. 20;

Fig. 24 is a section taken on the line 24-44, Fig. 20;

Fig. 25 is a section taken on the line 25-25, Fig. 20;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged view, with certain parts in section, of the upper right hand corner of the charging elevator shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the elevator guide bearings Fig. 2'1 is a section taken on the line 2l--2'l, Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 28 is a section taken on the line 28--2l, Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a. view similar to portions of Figs. 16 and 18, but showing the discharge elevator in folk: raised position; and

Fig. 30 is a partial wiring and piping diagram showing the electrical and hydraulic control devices.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The glass heating furnace generally indicated at I includes a metal casing 2 and a refractory lining 3 enclosing an elongated heating chamber 4. Any suitable means may be used for heating the chamber 4 to a suitable temperature for supplying heat to lights of. glass A to be heat treated in the chamber 4; such as electric resistors 5, diagrammatically indicated in dot-dash linesin Fig. 1, and indicated in full lines in Figs. 3 and 10. The heating means, such as the electric resistors 5, may be supplied in a suitable manner with energy; and the supply of energy may be controlled so as to heat the lights A rapidly and uni 'fornzly to the desired final temperature in chamber The roof of the furnace I is provided with a narrow slot 8 extending longitudinally centrally thereof substantially throughout the length of the furnace; and the slot 6 is widened at each end thereof to 'provide a furnace entrance opening 1 (Fig. 4) and a furnace discharge opening 8 (Fig. 16) The furnace roof is provided with longitudinal track slide bars 9 (Figs. 4 to 7) located adjacent to, parallel with, and along each side of the narrow roof slot 6 and the entrance and discharge openings I and 8 for a purpose to be later described; and the track bars 9 are preferably mounted in grooves in the longitudinal top plates i0 supported at II from the furnac frame structure generally indicated at II. The top plates ill also support the furnace roof by metal plates Ilia secured thereto and resting on the furnace side walls.

The furnace I is also provided with pusher means generally indicated at l3 in Figs. 1, l2 and 13, and the furnace pusher means includes a hydraulic cylinder I4 mounted at I5 at a lower comer of the entrance end of the furnace. A

taken on the line 2l2i,

Piston (not shown) operates in cylinder i4 and the piston rod It thereof is provided with a rack 11 at its upper end, which is backed up by roller II, and engages pinion I! mounted on one end of --shaft 20.

A gear 2i is mounted on the other end of shaft 20 and engages a rack portion of pusher bar 22. Pusher bar 22, above gear M, is backed up by roller 2! mounted at 24 on channel pusher frame 2|. The forward end of puaherbar II is provided with a pusher nose ii; and the rear end of pusher. bar 22 is provided with a spring tensiOned slide pad I1 pivoted at 28 to pusher bar '22, which pad Il slides on and engages pusher frame tain parts associated therewith, must incorporate known features of design, for avoiding glass 2! for centering, guiding and steadying pu'sher'- bar 22 during operation thereof to be later described.

An opening 28 i provided in each end wall of furnace l for gaining access to the furnace chamber I: and a plug door 30 is pivotally mounted at 3| 0112:8431! furnace end wall for closing the openings The furnace discharge opening 8 is covered at certain times for several purposes. to, be later described: and for accomplishing this a cullet pan 32 is provided, having wheels 83, which ride on rail members I4 supported on the furnace frame structure I! (Figs. 1, i6, 1'! and 18). The cuilet pan 3! moves from a discharge opening covering position shown in full lines in Fig. l. to a retracted position, shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1, and in full lines in Fig. 17. The operating mechanism for the cullet inder 3| mounted at I! in a lower corner of the exit end of the furnace.

A piston (not shown) operates in cylinder 8|, and the piston rod 81 thereof is provided with a rack 88 at its upper end, which is backed up by roller II, and. engages pinion 40 mounted on one end of shaft ll. Sprockets I! are provided on shaft ll for driving chains 43, which'pass over, another set of sprockets I mounted adjacent to the inner. end of furnace discharge opening I (Figs. 1 and 17). The cullet pan 32 is secured by fingers l! to chains It whereby movement of the' Piston in cylinder 3| in one direction or the other, moves th cullet pan 3! to the two positions illustrated in Fig. l.

A charging elevator mechanism generally indicated at It, and a discharge elevator mechanism generally indicated at H, later to be described in detaiLare located above the furnace. respectively, over the entrance opening I and discharge openn: 8

An overhead, preferably tramrail external conveyor ll extends preferably in the form of a loop, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, from the discharge elevator mechanism 41 to the charging elevator mechanism 46 to provide a conveyor communication between the discharge elevator and charging elevator. V g

The external conveyor preferably includes a monorail inverted T-track 49 formed with appropriate straight and curved portions to provide any desired loop such as the loop shown; and the track 49 may be suspended in any, usual manner by suspension members 50 (Figs. 1 and 1l).

The external conveyor loop track 4! terminates at one end at a charging elevator loading station generally indicated at B, and at the other end at a discharge elevator unloading station generally indicated at C; an end of the station 3 being adiacent to and elevated substantially vertically above an end of the furnace entrance opening i, and an end of the station C being adjacent to and elevated substantially vertically above an end of the furnace discharge opening 8.

The external conveyor loop 40 may be provided at any convenient place with a switch II, which communicates with a siding I! (Fig. 2) for a purpose to be later described.

A plurality of carriers generally indicated at it are provided for handling the glass lights A being heat treated. These carriers I, and cerpan includes an air cyl-' handling dimculties: and in addition. must be capable of being handled on the external conveyu It, onthe charging and discharging elevators I and ll, and along furnace track 9.

Referring more particularly toFigs. 4 to 9, each carrier 58 includes a preferably box-like member I preferably filled with any suitable insulation material II. when a carrier ll is passing along furnace I, the body member at preferably is supported and slides on track slide bars 9. Alternatively, slide bars 8 may be formed as rails and carrier body member 54 may be provided with wheels to ride on such rails. However, the sliding arrangement shown is preferred for more eii'ectively closing and sealing furnace slot 8-1-8.

Two or more vertical bars 55 are attached to the carrier body II, which bars 56 in turn support a preferably horizontal bar 51, the upper i as it passes along furnace face of which is preferably grooved at It. When a carrier II is positioned on furnace sliding bars I, the horizontal bar I'l thereof is located within the furnace heating chamber 4. Tongs ll of known design are preferably used to suspend glass lights A vertically from horizontal bar 51.

The glass lights A shown, are of a size and shape used as a rear light for a closed automobile. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular shown shape of glass light, because glass of various sizes and shapes can. by modifying the blast and mold mechanism if necessary, be handledin the improved apparatus. Moreover, more than one light may be suspended from each carrier 'as by lengthening vertical bars 56 and providing a plurality of spaced horizontal bars 51.

The carriers 58 are moved longitudinally of furnace I by the pusher means I! previously described. Each carrier is also preferably provided with one or more lugs ill for guiding the carrier i and for centering bars 86 in narrow slot 6. The narrow furnace slot 6 is only wide enough to permit free passage of the carrier bars i1 and the enlarged openings l and 8 at the ends of narrow slot 6 are only wide enough to permit entry of tongs i9, suspending lights A into, and withdrawal of the same from, the furnace heating chamber I.

Previously known glass handling carriers, have incorporated some of the general features just described. but the present invention involves supporting and transporting external conveyor track system 48. Forthis purpose, each carrier 51 is also provided with wheels ll rotatably mounted on U-shaped bracket yokes i2, and the wheels Ii are adapted to engage the monorail track ll,- as best shown in F'ig.'- 11. The yokes i2 arej'pivotally mounted at Bl on the carrier body member 84 to permit rotation of the yokes as required by curvature in the external conveyor track 4!.

As stated; it is necessary that the rakes in be capable of rotation with respect to the member 54 when a carrier 53 is suspended from external track 4!. 0n the other hand, when a carrier II is moving along the furnace, it is desired that the-axes of the wheels 6| be maintained at right angles to the path of carrier movement for a reason to be later described.

For this purpose. each yoke pivot mounting I preferably includes a strap 64 secured to the carrier be It, under which theyolfe 81 engages, which permits a slight relative vertical movethe carriers on the' meat between each yoke t2 and the carrier body member 54; and therefore permits pivoting of yoke when at its upper limit of movement. One or more lugs 65 are provided on the carrier body ll adjacent the pivot 68 for holding the yoke 82 against pivoting movement when the carrier 5! is not suspended by the yoke 62 and wheels BI, and when yoke moves by gravity to its lower limit of movement.

Thus, in Figs. 4 and 8, the yolres 62 are free to move pivotally with respect to the carrier body member 54, because the carrier wheels 61 are being supported. On the othenhand, in Figs. 5. 8, 'i and 9, when the carrier wheels are unsupported. the yokes 62 are held by lugs 65 against pivoting movement.

The charging elevator mechanism generally indicated at It includes an elevator frame structure II (Fig. 1) certain parts of which are omitted or broken away in some of the views for the sake of clearness.

Spaced upper and lower guide bearings 81 are mounted on the frame structure 68 near the upper end thereof (Fig. 26) and on opposite sides (Fig. l) centrally of-a so-called elevator shaft formed generally by the frame it (Figs. and 13). v

The elevator car generally indicated at it in Fig. 1, includes a pair of vertically movable, hollow slide rods 8!, which slide through said guide bearings 81, and upper and lower frame members generally indicated respectively at 10 and Ii, secured to the rods 0!.

The elevator car 08 moves vertically between upper and lower limiting positions. the lower position being shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, i0, i3 and 26; and the upper position of car frame member ll being illustrated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 10. Movement of the elevator car BI is effected by an operating mechanism which includes a hydraulic cylinder 13 mounted at 13 on the charging elevator frame it near the upper end thereof.

A piston (not shown) operates in cylinder 12 and the piston ,rod ll thereof is provided with a rack II, which is backed up by roller 16 and engages pinion 11 mounted on one end of shaft ll.

Two driven sprockets I! are mounted on shaft ll within the so-called elevator shaft. over which chains 80 pass. Chains 80 also pass under idler sprockets 8i and over idler sprockets 82 (Fig. 10), which sprockets are also mounted on elevator frame 80. One end of each of chains Oil is secured at N to the lower car frame member II; and a counterweight 84 is secured to the other end of each chain 80 for balancing the weight oi the elevator car parts.

Brackets 85 and 86 extend downward from'each end of frame member 1i (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8) and a rod 01 extends between the brackets 85 and It. A rotatable track member 88 is iournaled on rod 81 and the same includes a tubular portion I! and longitudinal wing or rib portions 90'. the length of the rib portions 00 being greater than the spacing of the carrier yokes 62. A bracket 86 likewise has radial ribs 8| corresponding to and in continuation of the ribs 90; and the end of tubular portion 89 adjacent bracket II is provided with an integral pinion 92, which meshes with a rack 83. The rack 98 is backed up by roller lla mounted on bracket 05; and rack 81 is attached at "b to the lower end of rod 94, which extends through one of hollow slide rods 89.

The upper end of rod Bl (Fig. 26) is secured aevaser to lever I! mounted on shaft II, which in turn is mountedat 91 on the upper elevator car frame member ll. Another lever 88 is mounted on shaft iii, to which is connected a piston rod Ill of thrustor" "III, also mounted on upper frame member 10.

Thus, operation of thruster I", to be later de scribed in detail, moves rack 93' so as to produce rotation of track member 88 from the position shown in: Figs. 4 and 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6 (slightly 'less than Referring to Fig. 4, rotatable track member 88 is longitudinally alignedwith furnace slot 6; and when the elevator car 68 is at its upper limit of travel, and rotatable track member 88 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the ribs 90 thereof are aligned with the wheel supporting flanges at the end of external track 49 at station B.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, spring fingers ifll are provided extending downward from lower car frame member II for engagement with furnace frame structure I! to accurately center elevator car with respect to the furnace opening I as the car reaches its lower limit of travel.

Associated with the charging elevator loading station B and the charging elevator mechanism 48 is a charging elevator loading mechanism generally indicated at I02, which includes a track support I03 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) mounted on charging elevator frame 88. Support I08 has mounted thereon upper and lower track member ill! on which run double flanged wheels ill of loader carriage i0. Carriage I06 is connected to piston rod I01 extending from a piston (not shown) in cylinder I08 also mounted at its on support I03.

A loader engaging finger H0 is pivotaily mounted at lilon loader carriage I06 and is normally maintained by spring H2 in the position shown in Figs. 13, i4 and 15, so as to engage the left hand end (viewing Fig. 13) of a carrier 83 indicated in dot-dash lines, located at loading station B. The spring tensioned arrangement and shap of finger llll enables the finger lit to cam along the side of a carrier body member N in being moved by piston rod III! to the left to locate the finger H0 at the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13.

Movement of the loader carriage I08 to the right from the full line position shown in Fig. 13, when charging elevator car 68 is in the raised position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 10, will cause carrier 53 to travel on wheels Bi from monorail track 49 onto ribs 90 of elevator car rotary track 88 until further movement of the carrier 53 to the right (Figs. 1 and 8) is stopped by the engagement of wheel ti against stop member ill.

Elevator car 08 may then be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein carrier body member 54 rests on track slide bars ii. Further downward movement of elevator car 88 causes rotary track Bl to be disengaged from carrier wheels Bl to a position spaced below the same, as shown in Fig. 5. Thruster I00 may then be operated to rotate rotary track member 88 to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the member lili may be withdrawn through the space between wheels GI and elevator car 88 may be raised, leaving carrier 53, thus transferred from loading station B. in the position occupied by the left hand carrier 53 in Fig. 1.

The discharge elevator mechanism generally indicated at 41, is similar in many respects to charging elevator mechanism it. The construeexcepting for the operation thereof.

tion is best'illustrated in Figs. 1, 18, 1'1, 18 and 19 and includes a frame structure a (Fig. 1)

across:

certain parts of-which are omitted or broken away in some of the views for the sake of clear- HESS.

posite sides (Fig. 1) centrally of the so-called elevator shaft formed generally by the frame to (Figs. 16 and 1-7).

The elevator car, generally indicated at "a in Fig. 1, includes a pair of vertically movable, hollow slide rods "0., which slide through said guide bearings 01a, and upper and lower frame members generally indicated respectively at Illa and Ho, secured to the rods "a.

The elevator car 88a moves vertically between upper and lower limiting positions, the lower position being shown in Figs. 16 and 1'1: and the upper position being shown in Figs. 1 and 29. The elevator car "I: also has a third or intermediate position of rest when a glass light A, on a carrier 52 being raised by the elevator car "a, is stopped for treatment at a bending and blast station interr'nediatethe limits of the discharge elevator car travel. as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Movement of the elevator car Old is effected by an operating mechanism which includes a hydraulic cylinder I24 mounted at In on the discharge elevator frame Ila near the upper end thereof.

A piston (not shown) operates in cylinder 12a and the piston rod Ila thereof is provided with a rack a, which is backed up by a roller 18a similar to roller II, and engages pinion 11a mounted on one end of shaft 180.

Two driven sprockets 19s are mounted on shaft 18a within the so-called elevator shaft, over which chains IIIIa pass. Chains a also pass under idler sprockets 8Ia and over idler sprockets 82a (Fig. 16), which sprockets are also mounted on elevator frame Ilia. Onev end of each of chains Illa is secured to the lower car, frame member Ha in the same manner as chains 20 are secured to lower car frame member II: and a counterweight 84a is secured to the other end of each chain 80a for balancing the weight of the elevator car parts for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Th construction of'the discharge elevator car 680. is identical with the construction of the charging elevator car It; and Figs. 4, 5, 6 and8 are illustrative of the discharge elevator car 880 Thus, a rod 94a, for operating a rotatable track member similar to rotatable track member 88, extends through one of hollow slide rods 69a and the upper end of said rod a (Figs. 1 and 17) is secured to lever 95a mounted on shaft 980, which in turn,

is mounted at 81a on the upper elevator car frame member Illa.

Another lever 98a is mounted on shaft 980. to

which is connected a piston rod 99a of thrustor llIlla,.a.lso mounted on upper frame member Ilia.

been energised, the charging elevator car rotatable track member 8| is moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 6: but when the discharge elevator thruster I We has been energised the discharge elevator car rotatable track member is moved to a horizontal position, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The third or intermediate position of the discharge elevator car 88a associated with the stopping of a glass light A at the bending and blast station is provided by hydraulic stop cylinder III (Figs. 16 and 11') mounted at II! on the discharge elevator frame ilia near the top thereof in alignment with hydraulic cylinder 121:.

A piston (not shown) operates in cylinder III and the piston rod H6 thereof is provided with a ram head I", which when extended will arrest the motion of rack Ito and thus prevent completion of the upward elevator stroke at a predetermined point associated with suspension of a glass light at th bending and blast station as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19. This is accomplished by making the cylinder Ill and piston therein of larger diameter than the cylinder 12c and the piston therein, and by supplying the same hydraulic pressure to both cylinders when operating the piston in cylinder 12a.

Associated with the discharge elevator unloading station 0 and the discharge elevator mechanism l! is a discharge elevator unloading mechanism generally indicated at I II (Figs. 1, l8, l7. 2'! and 28), which includes a hydraulic cylinder Ill mounted at l2ll'on a frame support I2l extending from the discharge elevator frame Old. 4 piston (not shown) operates in cylinder I II and the piston rod I22 thereof is secured at its outer end to a pusher nose I23, which is also secured to an inverted T-shaped track guide bar I24 (Fig. 28) The flanges of track guide bar I24 engage upperflanged rollers l2! and lower flanged rollers I26 rotatabLv iournaled respectively at I21 and I2! on frame support I2 I. The discharge elevator unloading mechanism'lll thus is arranged by operating piston I22 from the left to the right in Figs. 1 and 27 to propel a carrier 52 engaged by pusher nose I22 so that the carrier wheels 6| travel longitudinally along the ribs of discharge elevator rotary track and onto monorail track 19, to the position shown in full lines at discharge elevator unloading station 0 in Fig. 1. In thus unloading a carrier 52 from the discharge elevator car 88a, the car lilo must of course be in the raised position shown in full lines in Fig.

1;. and the carrier 2 is at that time in alignment with unloading cylinder I I8.

Bending equipment and air blast equipment are also associated with the discharge elevator and are located at a bending and blast station posi tioned' intermediate the limits of travel of the discharg elevator car within the so-called shaft of the discharge elevator immediately above the furnace exit "or discharge opening I.

The bending mold mechanism generally indicated at I29 (Figs. 1, l6, l8, 19, 20, 23, 24 and 25) is mounted in a subframe structure I20 carried by the discharge elevator frame 860,- and includes wheeled mold carriages Ill provided with detachable molds I32 having the desired curvature. The carriages III are provided with upper wheels I82 and lower wheels Ill which engage and ride on trackways I35 and Illa; and are also provided with lower side thrust wheels I" which angage andride on trackways I81 (Fig. 24). The

wheel and track mounting of the carriages III just described maintains alignment of the molds and exact matching thereof whenoperated.

Carriages I3I are actuated for reciprocatirig movement by connecting 'rods I38 and crank shafts I39 having sprockets I49 thereon, the crank shafts I 39 also being mounted in frame structure I39.

A chain I4I passes around both sprockets I49 and preferably has its upper'strand attached at I42 to the connected piston rods I43 and I44 of a pair of opposed single acting hydraulic cylinders I45 and I48 respectively, which cylinders I45 and I48 are also mounted on frame structure I59.

Cylinders I45 and I45 are'of such length as to produce a 360 degree rotation of crank shafts I39 with a single stroke thus moving the molds I22 from the retracted position shown in Figs. 1, i6, 19 and 20, toward each other to the closed position shown in Fig. 18 and again to the retracted position during said 360 degree rotation of said crank shafts I59. Of course the next time that the pistons in cylinders I45 and I48 are operated, the piston rods move in the opposite direction so as to again produce 360 degree rotation of crank shafts I99, but in the opposite directions The 360 degree rotation of crank shafts I39 is used to avoid any delay even momentarily incident to valve reversal if the crank shafts were operated 180 degrees and then reversely rotated 180 degrees. The effect of such delay, even for an instant, would be bad because of a chilling effect to the glass when under pressure between molds I32.

This arrangement for operating molds I32 by crank shafts, assuming constant angular velocity thereof, produces simple harmonic motion of the molds.

This cycle of operation is desirable because the material being bent is glass and glass must not be subjected to excessively rapid bending. However, the bending operation must be performed in a minimum permissible time. With this arrangement the mold movement for the most part is quick and the molds move to perform a bending operation and back to a retracted position within about two seconds.

Moreover, the hydraulic operating and control system for cylinders I45 and I45 is so adapted and arranged that the relative speeds of molds I32 during a cycle of operation may be further controlled in the manner described, as will be more fully set forth when the safety, timing, control and operating mechanisms are described. In this connection, cams 225, 225, 23 and 232 on crank shafts I99 are arranged to operate cam pieces for actuating valves associated with the hydraulic circuit to be later described.

The curved or bent shape of glass lights A resulting from the bending operation is indicated at AA in Figs. 18 and 19 and in dot-dash outline in Fig. 21.

The air blast equipment previously referred to is generally indicated at I48 (Figs. 1, 16, 17, 18. 19, 21 and 22) and is mounted on the discharge elevator frame 88a. The air blast equipment includes a pair of curved "blast heads" I49 having substantially the curvature of molds I32 and bent lights AA (Figs. 20 and 21); and the blast heads I49 are pivotally mounted at I59 at each upper corner thereof upon crank shafts II carried in housings I52.

Housings I52 are secured to lower longitudinal box members of substantiallly rectangular support frames I55. Support frames I53 are each pivotally supported at the inner ends of upper supporting arms I54 and lower supporting arms I55, the outer ends of which are pivotally mounted to fixed discharge elevator frame 550..

Thus, viewing Fig. 16, each support frame I59, arms I54 and I55, and elevator frame 66a form an approximate parallelogram system movable between an upper limiting position shown in Figs. 1, 16, 17 and 18, and a lower limiting position shown in Figs. 19, 21 and 22. The parallelogram is said to be approximate because the distance between the pivotal mountings of arms I54 and I55 on support frame I59 is slightly greater than the distance between the pivotal mountings of said arms on elevator frame 95a for a purpose to be later described.

Movement of the support frames I53, and therefore the blast heads I49 carried thereby, from the upper position shown in Fig. 16to the lower position shown in Fig. 19 is effected by operation of connecting rods I58 pivotally connected to upper support arms I54 and to crank shafts I51.

Sprockets I58 are mounted at one end of each crank shaft I51 and a chain I59 passes around both sprockets I59 and preferably has its upper strand attached at I (Fig. 17) to the piston rod Iil of hydraulic cylinder I82 mounted at I63 on discharge elevator frame 880..

Cylinder I52 is of such length as to rotate crank shafts I51 through 190 degrees, so that operation of the piston in cylinder I82 in one direction lowers blast heads I49 from the position of Fig. 16 to that of Fig. 19, and operation of the piston in the other direction raises blast heads I49 from the position of Fig. 19 to that of Fig. 16.

When the blast heads I49 are in the position shown in Fig. 19. they occupy substantially the same position just previously occupied by the bending molds I92 at the bending and blast position, as illustrated in Fig. 18. As has been previously stated, in heat treating glass, it is necessary to perform the blast operation as quickly as possible after removal of the glass from the furnace.

However. the bending operation must be performed before the'blast operation, so that it is desirable to perform both bending andblasting at one station immediately above the furnace exit opening. It has been previously noted that the operation of the bending molds occurs in about two seconds; and as the bending molds are being retracted, blast heads I49 may be moved down.

In order to bring the blast heads I49 as closely as possible to the bent lights AA and also to the blast position as quickly as possible, the parallelogram arrangement previously referred to is made approximate rather than exact so as to enable the distance of mold travel to be reduced and therefore to save a fraction of a second of time for the removal of the molds, thus permitting downward movement of the blast heads I49 (as the molds are being retracted) to the blast position previously occupied by the molds I32 a little quicker.

Each blast head I49 is preferably formed of an outer tubular frame member I64 having a series of perforated tubes I85 connected thereto from which a series of fluid, preferably air jets are blown. The air is supplied to each tubular frame I 84 by flexible tubes I88 leading from headers I81. Headers I 81 are connected (not shown) together by piping I 89 and to a main air valve I 59, shown in Fig. 30.

The air blast jets should not be directed constantly at certain spots on the glass lights AA thetramestroctnre'shavenot asvasei 9 stantly rotating crank shatts Ill through a drive including sprockets Ill. chains I'll, sprockets I'll. gears in gear cases I", shafts I'll, sprockets Ill, chains ill, sprockets ill, shaits I18. gears in gear cases "I, chattel and ill. sears in gear case Ill driven by motor I; which drive isbestshowninmfllandfl.

simple mannerby'the electrical wiring 9 the thrustors The siding is and track switch ll of the external conveyor system-ll. permits carriers It to be removed from or replaced in the external u a mo a; carrier Carriers is are manually, moved alongexternalconveyortracklooplltromdischargeelevatorunloadingstationctocharging elevator loading'staticn B. Heat'treated lights ahareremovedircmcarriersllatsomeconiullmandinrlmlsthec'arriers omitted.

or operations at certain mocha tplace. either at one oi said stations or [2 between the same: and glass lighted to'be heat treatedai'esuspendedtrouncanicrsilatsome convenlentplacqeither atone-otsaidstations crbetweenthesameaiongezternaiconveyor.

Q a particular carrier sewmi'a glassliglit a nisms have been omitted for subsequent dcscrlption.ae!ollows:'

Theculletpanflisprovidedi'orcoveringthe turnace-dischargeopenlnglandcarriersthereat riers will be prevented. since such accumulation suspendedthereiromismanuallymovedtoaposition somewhatasshownbwthecarrierll at stationBinl'ig. i. mechanism ll! loadssaidcarrier It onto charg- "ing elevator car ll. charging elevator car.

into'turn'ace i-tbrough furnace entrance openingfLOharglngelenturcar'trscklllsdisen gagediromsaidcarrierlisothatohargingelemight interfere with t or ment oi the carriers by the elevators.

Counterbalancesllandmareprovldedrw' spectiveiy tor the charging and discharge elevators lsa'ndsitoreduoetheneceesary operating eilortandtokeeptheoperatingchainstighton.

the sprockets.

likewise. pusher bar I! is centered. Iuided and steadied during operation'thereoi so that it will enssise a'carrier es above the furnace entrance opening I and advance it. togetherwith a series.

'oicarrierstsaheadciihalm'giurnacehevenly andsteadilyandwifliamlnimumofiarringto glass lights A suspended mm the carriers 83.

Similarlm-theanesotcarrierwheeis ll must, be maintained at right angles to the path or carricr movement when a carrier is is moving along furnace I sothatthewheeisel willbeinaproper member oi the discharge elevator oar-o at the furnace dischargeopeninglwithoutanvbump ingoriarring'ofthecarrieritincidenttosuch engagement, which might jar or damage 810 lights A suspended by thecarrier.

Thrustors island llloarewellknownelecti'i vatorcarllmayberaisedto'fupf'poeitiontc be ready tor-receiving another carrier II from:

oligra'ingeievatorioadingmechanismilt.

htthepropertimehirnacepushermeans'll 45 operatestoadvancesaidcarrlerllalongheating furnace I, togetherwith all other carriersllaheadoisaldcarrierllintheheatingi'urnace.

Whensaidcarrlerllbeeomeathroughsum I siveoperationaotlurnacepushermeans ",the' to iorwardcarrieroithe-eeriesoi'carrlersllircmwhich glass llghteAare suepended'in heating turnacechamberhandislocaiedatturnacedin charge openings, discharge elevator car "a atthepi'opertiinetodown"poiiition 5e and its rotary trackeneaoes' said carrier '8;

elevator car llo then raises until giassiighthislocatcdatthebendingandblast station, when bending mold mechanism II! opposition-to be ensed by the rotatable mes cal-hydraulic units. which impart rectilinear motionteapushrodorram-lrcmarotatingelectric motor when the latter is started. The thrustors ill and. lllaare used on the charllns and discharge elevator cars is and sea. which are moving parts, so as to enable the elevator car track engagement and disengagement with erates'to bend glass li hts A to-the shape indicatedatilaandimmediateixairblsstcquivm t III operatesiooooltheglass light Msuspendsd trtgmsaidcarrierleatthebendingandblast 's ticn.

At the proper 'time discharge elevator car "a; v w israisedto' p"position,anddischargeelevator unloading mechanism ill operates to transfer said carrier II from elevator car Clo to discharge elevator unloading station C, as shown mm];

70 Saidcarrierllisthenmanuallyinovedaiong externalconveyorlooptracklflinturmuntilthe convenient station is reached where the bent heat treated light M is removed, from said carrier l8. Therea'ttenan'ewlishtaissuspendedthmlesnierwheeislltcberemoteiycontrolledinalorromandsaidearrierisreadvtoagainmove 

